Bottle closure and opener.



O. M. ERNST & F. A. SGHRAMM.

BOTTLE CLOSURE AND OPENER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1a, 1913.

Patented May 12, 1914.

mvsurons W +Ww-L! I WTTOR/VEYS WITNESSES STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONRAD M. ERNST AND FRANK A. SCHRAMM, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOTTLE CLOSURE AND OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1914.

Application filed September 18, 1913. Serial No. 790,394.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CONRAD M. Enns'r and FRANK A. SOHRAMM, both citizens of the United States, and both residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Bottle Closure and Opener, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention consists of a bottle closure and opener which is composed of acap, a solid disk and a sealing piece, said disk being interposed between said sealing piece and the top of said cap, thus vastly strengthening the latter.

It consists also in forming sa-i'd disk with a finger piece whereby the cap may be easily removed from the bottle.

It consists further in forming said finger piece whereby its strength is vastly increased, especially at the place where it is subjected to the greatest strain.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement and organization shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a bottle closure and opener, embodying our invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of a detached portion thereof. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of a portion on line ww, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of the device, on an enlarged scale, in operative position on a bottle.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings: 1 designates a disk or circular plate of metal, the same being adapted to be interposed in the metal cap 2 between the packing or sealing piece 3 and the top of said cap, said top and the disk 1 being formed of light but sufliciently strong and solid material thus forming two contacting thicknesses of metal in the cap which greatly strengthen the latter.

The sealing piece and disk are held in position in the cap by the corrugated or scalloped rim 4 of the cap, and said rim is further adapted to be swaged or compressed on the shoulder of the neck of a bottle so as to hermetically seal the bottle and prevent the cap, as is evident, being rendered immovable except by superior force tpphed thereto to relieve it from said shoul- Depending from a peripheral portion of the disk 1 and integral therewith, is the finger piece 5, which after leaving said disk is interposed between the periphery of the piece 3 and inner wall of the rim of the cap and hangs below the latter. The upper portion of said finger piece is struck-up forming the vertical crimp 6, which vastly stitiens and strengthens said portion especially where it joins the disk, a place subjected to severe usage and strain in the operation of removing the cap to open a bottle by the manipulation of the finger piece.

When the cap as equipped is fitted on the mouth of a bottle, its rim is clamped on the shoulder of the neck thereof, as well known, but the finger piece occupies a position along the side of the neck of the bottle, below said rim and shoulder, so that it is convenient of access.

When the bottle is to be opened, the piece 5 is engaged by a finger as a lever member and the thumb and worked outwardly and upwardly whereby by its leverage it gradually loosens the rim of the cap from the shoulder ofvthe bottle and then removes the cap therefrom, it being. noticed that owing to said leverage the joint or place of connection of the finger piece and disk would be liable to bend, fracture or separate were it not for the strengthening of said piece by the crimp 6 throughout its upper length reaching to said joint or place whereby the connection of the piece with the disk remainsintact and does not yield, and thus the cap may be efiectively operated by said piece so as to be easily and unfailingly started and fully removed from the bottle.

The crimp 6 extends from side to side of said lever member 5, and is compressed with the rim of the cap on the bead at the mouth of a bottle, said crimp then resting upon the bead of a bottle as a seat, so the lever member when drawn outwardly has of its crimp adapted to work seat, and thus be highly effective in expanding the rim of the cap and raising it clear of the bead of the bottle, whereby the latter is open, it being evident that in working the lever member, the great strain thereon is where it contacts with said bead, and so it is essential to stiffen said the edges upon said member at said place, and this is accomplished by the crimp 6, the advantage of which is apparent.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A bottle closure and opener composed of a cap having a depending inturned rim, a pliable sealing piece in said cap Within said rim and a Washer interposed between said sea-ling piece and cap and independent of the sealing piece and comprising a flat disk having contact throughout substantially its entire area with said sealing piece and cap, and a lever member pendent from the peripheral edge of said disk with a portion thereof in close contact With said rim, said lever member having a longitudinally disposed crimp for contact with a bead on the neck of a bottle.

CONRAD M. ERNST. FRANK A. SCHRAMM.

Witnesses:

JOHN'A. WIEDERsHEIM, C. D. MOVAY. 

